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Does anyone know if it's possible to get dogs down to Y12 without going down the ladder? Is there a dog trail and if so is it sketchy for people?

yes there is a way. i haven't been there in a while so my memory may not serve me as well as it once did. as i recall, when you are getting close to the end of the approach (the ladder) you will see a faint trail that branches off to the left, BEFORE you get to the trail (which also branches off to the left) that leads to the ladder. remember staying on the main trail continues towards tieranny etc. take this trail and it will follow a steep gully down to the base of the cliff (don't think it is sketchy for most people). if you follow the cliffline to the right after you arrive at the bottom of the gully you will end up back at the base of the ladder you avoided after a short distance. i hope that helps.

Bentley takes Bella down the ladder, but I don't know that I'd recommend it - it's a pretty big ladder. There is a dog trail, but I don't know if its been used in years since the ladder was put up. You turn left off the main trail before the sign that points you to Y12. I honestly don't know if you can even see that trail anymore.

Another option would be to hike in via the Lily Overlook parking lot, and just never head up to the top of the cliff, stay at the bottom. It'd be more of a pain, but possible.

Another option would be to hit up Little Clear. You have to cross the river to get to Little Clear, which may be near impossible with the weather we've had, but there are no ladders. Only downside to Little Clear is that most of the 12's are off a ledge, so you may want to leave dogs tied up nearby. But then again, Bentley lets Bella run around up there and I've seen other dogs up there, just kinda freaks me out a bit.

Then there's always Lily. Definitely no Y12.

Good luck! When you headed down here?

last time i was there (last summer) there was no sign for the y12 wall, you just had to know where to turn. the trail to the ladder was pretty obvious, and the trail to the gully was faint but visible. i think some people still use it. if your dog is very big then i wouldn't brave the ladder. you have to climb down a steep boulder using a rope just to access the top of the ladder, it would be sketchy for you and the dog.